Automatic feed fob tinning machines



Mar. 13, 1923. 1,448,711

E. c. POOL AUTOMATIC FEED FOR TINNING MACHINES Filed NOV. 26, 1920 6 sheets-sheet l a Q, SI m ),-oi w Mar. 13, 1923.

E. C. POOL AUTOMATIC FEED FOR TINNING MACHINES Filed Nov. 26, 1920 6 sheets-sheet 2 v 'v lnveniar:

We asses Mar 13, 1923.

E. C. POOL- AUTOMATIC FEED FOR 'iINNING MACHINES File"? Nov. 26, 1920 6 sheets-sheet 55 mG MPX 1 [72 van Z70 r.- ZZM M ngf Mar. 13; 1923.

1,448,711 E. c. POOL AUTOMATIC FEED FOR TINNING MACHINES Filed Nov. 26, 1920 6 sheets-sheet 4 Vifkesse:

bzveniar:

Mar. 13, 1923,

E. C. POOL AUTOMATIC FEED FOK TINNING MACHI ES Filed Nov. 26, 1920 6 sheets-sheet; 5

Wines-yes: M M

Mar. 13, 1923.

E. c. POOL AUTOMATIC FEED FOR TINNING MACHINES F1 led Nbv.

6 sheets-sheet g; Ki

@. f n-J Patented Mar. 13, 1923.

UNITED STATES ELMER C. POOL, OF NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIX.

J AUTOMATIC FEED FOR TINNING MACHINES.

Application filed November 26, 1920. Serial No. 426,627.

[0 all Il /20])? it may concern.

Be it known that I, EIJH'ZR t. PooL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New Castle. in the county of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful linprovements in Automatic Feeds for 'linning Machines. of which the following is a s wcification.

My invention relates to the manipulation of sheet metal plates. and more particularly to the feeding of such plates. one at a time, from a pile to a tinning machine, and has for one of its objects the producing of an improved feeding mechanism whereby adhesive means such as a 'magnetic force will be employed to lift the plates, one at a timefrom a pile, without moving more than one plate, and without disturbing the position of the plate or plates next to the one hcing removed.

Another object is to'provide improved safety means for preventing more than one plate being carried or fed into the tinning machine.

Still another object is to provide means for automatically diverting two or more overlapping plates out of the machine before they enter the tinning pot, should the first safety means fail to separate such plates.

"hile my invention is primarily designed for use in delivering plates to tinniug ma chines. and is illustrated in connection with such a machine, the invention is not limited thereto, but may be employed in various other combinations where it is desired to manipulate plates, one at a time, without danger of carrying more than one.

The primary feature of my invention is to provide a. machine with a rotary plate. moving magnetic member, having a plurality of diametrically disposed poles around its periphery, adapted to contact with the face of the outermost plate, and to so spread the path of the magnetic lines or circuit over the plate that there is no tendency for any of the magnetic lilies to pass therethrough into the next adjacent plate or plates, such terminals or poles being of such form as to concentrate the lines of force into a relatively small area when entering the plate, thereby increasing the pull or holding power of the magnet. i

The above and other'nhjects and advantages will be more fully brought out in the following specification and claims, and will be fully illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure l is a sectional the device.

Figure 2 is a top plan thereof.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation thereof.

Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the drive connections.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view showing the magnetic feed roller, magnetic plate separator, plate guides, and other associated parts.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of the magnetic feed roller, partly in section.

Figure '1' is an enlarged detail View of the magnetic plate separator.

In the accoin mnying drawings, the letter designates a tinning pot, in itself an old and approved form. The pot is separated transversely by a vertical wall or partition 2, into compartments B and The lower edge of this partition or septum 2 which accompanying side elevation of terminates above the bottom of the tinning pot, and the upper edge of a rib or projection 3 on the bottom of the pot defines the width or vertical dimension of a narrow passage or opening D, through which the plates, while submerged in the bath of molten tin, pass from the compartment B into the compartment C of the pot A. The particular lot shown is of a width which permits of two or more plates, side by side, being passed through the tinning 0t.

Located immediately above t e upper edge of the compartment B, at the plate entering side of the tinning pot. are two sets of feed rollers E and F, which are arranged to receive the plates from my improved feeding mechanism to be described. and to move them forwardly and downwardly into the tin pot at an angle. to the horizontal. 1

The feed rollers F are at a somewhat lower level than the rollers E, and an adjustable. roller G is located on the discharge side of the set F to guide and direct the front end of the successive plates forwardlv and downwardly, into the molten. tin iii compartment B, as they emerge from between the rollers F.

Positioned within the compartment B, closely adjacent to the passage D, is a set of pressure rolls I. These presure rolls feed the plates from compartment- 13 into the con'ipartlnent C.

.\n inrlintd upron into l is proridvd at tho tllllitlltf't 0nd of tho von1purin1m1t l, o? i, pot to lljttlVi' thv plates ilh the 2111- drhvvrvd from any iniprowd fwdidg nnwhzinimi. Hid-r guizhlllitlin 1; and iii. are :1rrun1n d to, {jllltli the: plot-1 through thv rolls l and l, and ruri'ud giiiilu phitw H and ll" form Ll guidr N \dtltl! dirwtv the; forward end of the plntw (Ultlgliigl from this art of prwsuru rolls l u nritrdir into tho liitt of tho low sr fitt 3 ed tht l m tloul rollers Fl and ii.

My improved totaling IJWtllilIllrll is adapted to ho lut'lltt'il dirwtiy to tho run of tho tiuuin; pot and vonspii-- 1 dooldv set of parts urrungml hldv l1 i1h= 1-o up to tlt'i on two pilos of llldltr zit ouv that, tlHlt" by ferding two plates. hltlt ii sid, into tlw tinuing Hizltlllllt- A fraumnvorlt or upporting Hil'llt'tltlt lt'i is :wwttt'ml to and extends murwzirdly from tho tinning pot and supports tho NVtllll ports iroiitprising my feeding niet-lmnism. A llfihil or rot-vptiit'le 1T '15 rlllil'ttl to and (.Xiiillirl lmlow thv frnnioworlz 1i and is adapted to rptnin :i rt-rtii-allv zuljustiilile plate pilt' lioldvr. The plate holdvr routprist' s a hack 11M int-tuber l!) which is cured to tho'hzu-l; wall of tho lJUSll 17 and projects tnwgirdly and downwardly at an anglm so as to alidztidy support an LHli.2]]l3l plate rtainer 12 which is of sizliirient width to hold two piles f plates side by side: The late rotuinvr 21? is :idjustahly hold in position and iidziptcd to be vertically ad justed by means of :1 pair of chains 21, one of which serum! on l-dt'll end thereof and passed upwardl over suitable sheaves splined on :1 shaft :22) jom'mlled in the bosh this shaft having: a rzduhvt and (log op erating mechanism :24 on one end outside of the 9nd wall of the llUSll.

Mounted on the rear odgo of thihttpporting t'rmnooorlc it? at rite-h vnd and cont-t'l' thereot in at term'ket 25 supporting :71 Shaft 26, having four Eli'fllh' :5? loom-1y mounted theroon for pivotal Iililt'tfllltlll.

The arms 27 have it pair of t' \'llllll1l ill nmgnetic plate lifters Y jotilnztlvd :md mpported in their lower rods. and the litltl'l arms have their upper ends 'lliIlttiWVtlglltt'll by adjustable trountvrwoights '39 mounted on a projecting orni'i'l-tk A lot-king levbr 31 is pivoted on tho arms :27. having tho i-ountvrweights :idjat-vnt thvir uppvr vnds and Stuh levt-r is provided with 21 nott-h 32 to. engage with. the projecting tongue 32% on tho mine 16 so as to hold tho nmgnvth plzitv lil'ti-rs Y-out of thvir plow engaging position when desired.

The magnutitplate lift a"; Y tttll vomlH'lh tl Gt pcrnmnrnt magnutiv nivznhc-r 2H niountwl within :1 pair of hollow ttylindl'iiul mining-s 3T1 whit-h haw tlwir inner ends span-ed apart and joinvd h :1 nondnagnctir h llow lllltllltttl tubular nwnilier 3G. Stub shaft: U? are tlil'ttttltil into the (Hllt'l' ends of the EEiblilfibl 3:3 and support tho whole wtrurtorr in setittthlr lwurings. tot-turd in tho lower tll lf: of tlw UlHlB 2?.

The hollow (:xilllilllltll raising momlicrs 3.3 1H fornmd from soft iron or othM' material whirl! will rvziilily tUHYt Y tho e'irvuit or at trio-ting l on-v11- l'ronl thv pvrnnnwut nmgnut 23 i. thus mining unlilnptllt'n through whit-l1 ii i' l'tflilt will llt oomph-ted Wittll thor 1'o11- tnvt with :1 piziltx Thu outrr Martin-o or ptziiphviy of tho Elitlllllt'IH 11.3 H tlutvd. forming it st-rivs id hnilr :zdgv l'ilh or projee-tions 2%.). It will thus I14 won that wtvh of tho ril1 oi projwlions Ill will Hu-c'eshivvly vngugu a1 plaiti- :15 thruurgnvt 5H rotutvd. and that projvi'tions on tlutlzlil' iriil vowing}; will form ()flllthltt or unliln polo Hltilt'bl. 11nd that Hltl'll p1-o jot-titan \iill vontart with tho law of tlw ontvrmost plate of the pllo in tho n-tzunr-r 2 t. 'l'hr Qfft'i ft of thv knil'v "dgv mntmts will he to concentrate the fort-m of tho 11111; net in the immediate plate and liliYtltl tho t-ljjtttltllllg of the fort-vs through and into the next adjoining plates.

Suitable rross-beains 4 ---4W ll't :lll'zlllQttl t Pxtt ud from one end of the l iilillt mapport it; to tho other immediately allow tho oppcr odgu of tlH Mosh, and '21l'l' nuitaldv rurved guide Htl'lllh -l-l-l2 urrziug'vd to l'orin m1 upwardly and inwardly llllillilt' l })2i $t; [k wz v to guidc' tin plates living: court-rod.

A wt'ondpair of rroas-i'ivtnns lil- -lil iti arrangvd forward of and above the t'l'(J:-:ilieains to. and rarry other guide Strips M d?) forming a HPl'UIlil 11Ll $ti},1'l'\\tl adapted to rvrviw the platen l'roni tlnpus sage-wary between the strips ib-+2 and direct them forwardly and upwardly he twovn Hillttlllll pint-h rollers 46 and 4? whit-l1 may be of any wl-ll-kuown minslriwtion.

iittliit'iili in lixuwith tho HlH'lK'litt -l t1nd :1 third Nillht'lfli 48 is mounted on with vnd of tho lltiii iii in lintwith tho sproi'kvtis 4 and 43, A link (huin 45! is {mined :1l1out thv FlJIUI'lQ'U-l -l-i h41t ttt". thus driving:- tho pint-h rollvrs 1Q ping-l1 rollers *ti lllltl 413ml :dml't Jifdt tho still speed. It will lnundtlstoo l that ii found drsn'alilv in przn'tit-o. :1 inglv not ol' drive Spl'fl 'lx'ttb may ho navel.

A pair ot. sprovkets 5U of sonmwlmt sinullt-r dizuuvtvr than the sprorkvts 4H 4h. 1% 2111' mounted on the ends of tho shaft 21;. and a zprovlwt 511. of greater dianwtur than spun-hots 5 is niountc-d on the PlHl of tho outside stub shaft 37 of each magnetic conveyer, and a link chain 52 is trained over the sprockets 50 and 51 to constantly drive the conveyer members, which will necessarily revolve at a lesser speed than the pinch rollers E and pinch rollers 46, 47, due to the difference in size of the sprockets 50 and 51.

A cross-beam member 54 is arranged forward of the rollers 4(347 and has two pairs of suitably spaced dependin lugs which support pivot shafts 56 adapted to have hinged guide plates 57 supported thereon. Plates 57 have a crank arm 58 secured thereto which abuts the cross-beam 54 when the plate is in its lowermost position, and carries a counterweighted lever 59 to normally hold it in such position.

Supporter] on suitable cross-beams 60 forward of the hinged plates 57, and in proximity thereto, is a )air of guide plates 61. The plates 61 are formed of top and bottom pointed portions, the top portion being directed forwardly over the rollers E and the bottom portion directed downwal-dly and forwardly to the passage between the rollers E.

The inclined apron 10 of the tinning pot ;is arranged below the plates 57 and (11. and {completes the passage-way to the rollers E. The hinged counterweighted guide plates l5? serve as a trap so that if more than one plate or sheet should be carried through the pinch rollers 4647 they will bear against the guide plate 57 with sufficient force to counteract the effect of the counterweighted lever 59 and raise the guide plate, thereby allowing the plurality of plates or sheets to pass over the dual guide plates (31 and away from the tinning pot.

Magnetic separators X are mounted above each of the magnetic plate lifters Y and comprlsea rectangular casing member 63 pivotally supported on the cross-beam 40. The casings 63 contain a permanent magnet 64 and are provided with blade or knife ed e poles 65 which extend into the path of the lifted plates and contacts with the rear faces thereof. The magnet 64 is of less strength than the magnets of the plate lifter Y, and, therefore will not materially retard the movement of the plates. yet it is of sufficient strength that if two platesshould stick or in some manner be lifted together, it will retard the movement ofthe second plate, and thus separate them.

A still further means for preventing the feeding of more than a single plate into the tinning pot is located just to the rear of the pinch rollers 46-47, and comprises a shaft 67 journaled in the frame support 16 and having a plurality of locking fingers (38 of triangular shape, secured thereon and of such size that their fiat sides will extend past the uide strips and into the path of the lifted plates. As the plates are guided be tween the strips 44 and 45, they will bear against the upper strips 44 due to the direction of their travel, and in this position they will strike the fingers 68 and cause the shaft and fingers to rotate one-third of a revolution, thereby presenting one of the other faces of the fingers against the plate. If a second plate is overlapped on the first in such a manner that its forward edge is disposed to the rear of the forward edge of the first plate, it yvill strike the fingers and he held, since the fingers can not again rotate until the first plate has passed from under and clears the fingers.

Another feature and function of these fingers is that they .will cause an even feed of the plates from both of the magnetic feed rollers Y, since if one roller feeds a plate in advance of the other, the first to reach or strike the lingers (38 will rotate them the onethird turn, and then lock them against rotation until it has passed from thereunder, and the plate that is in the rear will be held until the fingers are again freed when another plate will be presented by the other magnetic feed roller to follow the one just clearing the fingers, thus causin r the newly presented plate, and the held plate to pass together to the rollers 464'?.

The operationof my improved feeding mechanism will be readily understood from the above description taken with the accompanying drawings. The peculiar and novel construction of magnetic plate lift will cause the magnetic forces to be concentrated on a single plate of the pile and will lift it through the guide passages to the pinch rollers 46.47, which will in turn feed it to the pinch rollers E of the'tinning pot.

The operations of the three separate mechanisms for preventing more than one plate being carried to the tinning pot, have also been fully described above, and will not be gone into again, although these mechanisms are important features and are distinct improvements over any devices heretofore known.

It will be readily understood that while 1 have described my invention in combination with a tinning pot, it is not limited to such use, but may be used wherever it is ilesired to feed single plates, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to such a combination.

It will also be understood that while I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention with great particularity, I do not wish nor do I intend to limit my invention to such structure, since various modifications in structures and combination of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of mv invention as defined in the appended claims. For instance, wound active magnets may be substituted for the permanent magnets shown, a rotating roller having a series of vacuum cups on the periphery thereof forming adhesive means for engaging the plates may be used instead of the magnets. or other such sub stitutions of etpiivalents made as found neces ary or desirable.

It will also be further understood that this apparatus may be used to feed plates from a horizontal pile. That is. the plates may be moved longitudinally or sidewise from a horizontal pile. and the words lifted. or lifting. as used in the several claims will be understood to include this movement.

I Claim:-

1. An automatic plate feeder. including a cylindrical rotary magnetic lifter member having opposite pole portions adapted to contact with a plate and complete the mag netie eireuit therethrough, said pole portions having their outer peripheries fluted. forming knife edge contacting surfaces.

2. An automatic plate feeder for lifting and feeding single plates from a pile in faeewise engagement. one with the other. comprising a rotary magnet having a phe ralityof radial knife edge poles around its periphery and adapted to slu-ressively en gage the exposed fare of the outermost plate as the magnet is rotated. said magnet operating to move plates one by one from said pile.

3. lhe roinbination with a tinning pot of an automatic plate feeder. said feeder coniprising a rotary magnetic member. said member havinga plurality of poles adapted to successively engage plates fed thereby and said poles being arranged in alined pairs-of positive and u :ative poles.

4. The combination with a tinning pot. of a rotary magnet having a plurality of knife edge poles spared around its peripln ery. said magnet operating to move plates one by one from a pile in which the plates bear one against the other.

5. The combination with a tinning machine for tinning metal plates, and a support for a pile of plates to be delivered to the machine with the plates of the pile i'u facewise engagementone with the other. of a rotary magnet having a, plurality of knife edge poles disposed diametrically around its periphery and adapted to successively engage the exposed fare of the outermost plate as the magnet is rotated. said magnet operating to move plates one by one from said pile;

(l. The combination with a tinning' machino for tinning metal plates. and a sup port, for a pile of plates to be delivered to the machine with the plates of the pile in faeewise engagement one with the other, of a roturv magnet having a pluralit of knife edge poles disposed diametrically around its periphery and adapted to succe$ively engage. the exposed face of the outermost plate. as the magnet is rotated. said magnet operating to move plates one by one from said pile. and a second magnet. of less strength than said first named magnet extending into the path of the plate being moved and adapted to yield-ably engage the opposite fare from that engaged by said first named magnet and to exert a counter pull thereon. said magnet being of such strength as to not. materially retard the movement, of the plate. but being sufficient to hold back a second plate if two he stuck and so moved from the pile together.

7. The combination with a tinning potfor tinning metal plates. and suitable plate guideways arranged therein. of a pair of feeding rollers arranged at the entrance end of said guideways. and a rotatable magnetic member. said magnetie member having a tinted periphery forming knife edge eontacting surfaces adapted to engage the outermost plate of a pile and more it upwardly into engagement with said feed rolleis.

S. The combination with a tinning pot, for tinning metal plates. having suitable guideways arranged therein. of a -pair of feeding rollers arranged at the entrance end of said guideuays. other guideways to the rear of and extending below said feed rollers. and a rotatable magnetic member haw ing a plurality of knife edge poles adapted to successively engage the outermost. plate of a pile and move it upwardly through said last named guideways. into engagement with said feed rollers.

fl. The combination with a tinning pot for tinning metal plates. having suitable guideways arranged therein. of a pair of feeding rollers arranged at the entrance end of said guide\\a \'s other guideways to the rear of and extending below said feed roll ers. a rotary magnet having a plurality of knife edge poles disposed diametrically around its periphery and adapted to suecessively engage the exposed face of the outermost, plate of a pile as said magnet is rotated. said magnet operating to move the plates one by one from t'hepile up through said last named guideways. and into engage ment with said feed rolls. and a seeond magnet of less strength than said first named magnet extending into the path of the plate as it is moved upwardly between said last named guideways aml adapted to yieldably engage the opposite face from that engaged by said first named magnetaml to exert. a counter-pull thereon. said magnet being of such strength as not to materially retard the movement, of the plate, but being sufficient to hold back a second plate if two he stuck together.

10. The combinationwith a tinning pot, for tinning metal plates. having suitable guideways arranged therein. of a pair of feeding rollers arranged atv the entrance end of said guideways, other guideways to the rear of and extending below said feed roll ers, and a rotatable magnet member having a pluralit of knife edge poles adapt-ed to successively engage the outermost plate of a pile and move it upwardly through said last named guideways into engagement with said feed rollers, and means to prevent overlapping plates entering said feed rolls, said means comprising stop members adapted to be actuated by the first plate and moved down so as to engage and hold a second overlapping plate until said first plate has passed into the rolls.

11. The combination with a tinning pot for tinning metal plates, having suitable guideways arranged therein, of a pair of feeding rollers arranged at the entrance end of said guideways, other guidevays to the rear of and extending below said feed roll ers, and a rotatable magnetic member having a plurality of knife edge poles adapted to successively engage the outermost plate of a pile and move it upwardly through said last named guideways into engagement with said feed rollers, and means for preventing the passage of two or more overlapping or stuck plates through said first named guideways, said means comprisinga weighted trap located at a curve in said guideways. the tension of a single plate being insuflicicn-t to operate such trap while the tension of two or more plates will cause it to operate and divert the platw.

12. The combination with a tinning machine t'or tinning plates, having suitable guideways arranged therein, and a vertically adpistable support for a pile of lates to be delivered to the machine with the plates of the pile in facewise engagement one with the other. of a pair of feeding rollers arranged at the entrance end of said guideways, other guideways to the rear of and extending below said feed rollers, and a rotatable magnetic member having a plurality of knife edge poles adapted to successively engage the outermost plate of said pile and move it upwardly through said last named guideways into engagement with said feed rollers.

13; The combination with a tinning nIachine for tinning plates having suitable guideways arranged therei-m aml a vertically ad'ustable support for a pile of plates to be delivered to the machine with the plates of the pile in facewise engagement one with the other, of a pair of feeding rollers arranged at the entrance end of said guideways, other guideways to the rear of and extending below said feed rollers, a rotary magnetic member mounted below said last named guideways and adapted to engage the ile of plates on said support. said magnet having a plurality of knife edge poles disposed diametrically around its periphery adapted to successively engage the exposed face of the outermost plate of the pile as said member is rotated, said member operating to move the plates, one by one, from the pile up through said last named guideways and into engagement with said feed rollers, and a second magnet of less strength than said first named magnet extending into the path of the plate as it is moved upward between said last named guideways and adapted to yieldingly engage the opposite face from that engaged by said first named magnet and to exert a counter-pull thereon, said magnet being of such strength as not to materially retard the movement of a single plate but being suflicient to hold back a second plate if two he stuck together.

14. The combination with a tinning machine for tinning plates, having suitable guideways arranged therein, and a vertically adjustable support for a pile of plates to be delivered to the machine with the plates of the pile in facewise engagement one with thepther, of a pair of feed rollers arranged at the entrance end of said guideways, other guideways tothe rear of and extending below Said feed rollers, a rotary magnetic member mounted below said last named guideways andadapted to engage the pile of plates on said sup ort, said magnet having a plurality of knife edge poles disposed diametrically around its periphery adapted to successively engage the exposed face of the outermost plate of the ile as said member is rotated, said mem er operating to move the plates, one by one, from the pile up through said last named guideways and into engagement with said feed rollers, and means for reventing the passage of two or more over apping or stuck plates through said first named guideways, said means comprising a weighted trap forming a curved portion of said first named guideways, the tension of a. single sheet plate as it passes through said curved portion of said guideway being insufiicient to operate said trap, while thi: tension of two or more plates will cause sad trap to operate and divert the plates.

15, An automatic plate feeder. comprising pinch rolle rs, guideways and magnetic means for feed ng not more than one, plate at a time from the pile.

16. An automatic plate feeder. comprising a cylindrical rotary magnetic feeder member having opposite pole portions adapt ed to contact with aplate and complete the magnetic circuit therethrough, in combination with suitable guideways.

17. An automatic plate feeder, including a cylindrical rotary ,magnetic feeder memher having opposite pole portions adapted to contact with a plate and complete the magnetic circuit therethrough. said pole por- 

